First Test On The RoadThe Quinnipiac University men's soccer team continues its non-conference slate with its first true road contest of the 2012 campaign. The Bobcats head up to Worcester, Mass. for a showdown with the Crusaders of Holy Cross on Thursday, August 30. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Linda J. Smith Soccer Stadium.

All-Time Against Holy CrossDespite holding a 3-6-1 record all-time against the Crusaders, Quinnipiac enters this match-up having won the last two meetings. In 2007, the Bobcats escaped with a 1-0 victory on the road, followed by a 2-1 triumph at home in 2008. The series' first began back in the 1997 season.

Scouting the CrusadersHoly Cross returns 17 players from last year (2-13-2, 1-6 Patriot League) and welcomes nine new faces to the team. Among the returners are their top six goal scorers from a season ago. The Crusaders will be led by their four seniors of Pat McCann, Evan Polanik, Shane Regan and Steven Stefanak. Marco Koolman enters his first season as the head coach at Holy Cross. He owns a career record of 201-75-28 as a collegiate head coach, and currently ranks 13th all-time in NCAA Division II history with a .707 career winning percentage. Koolman spent nine seasons at Franklin Pierce from 2000-08.

Last Time Against Holy CrossThe Bobcats mounted a furious second-half comeback back in 2008 to defeat the Crusaders. Forward Graciano Brito, now an assistant coach for the squad, found the back of the net twice in the final 15 minutes to erase a one-goal deficit. Freddy Hall, now with Toronto FC, posted three saves in the triumph.

Last Time OutWilliam Daniels scored the team's first goal of the season on last Friday, but the Bobcats were defeated by #14 nationally ranked Boston College, 2-1, at the QU Soccer Field on Mount Carmel Campus. The Bobcats clipped the Eagles' two goal lead midway through the second half, however, were unable to find the equalizer in the closing minutes. Junior Sam Nicol assisted Daniels on the goal.

Six For DanielsThe tally for William Daniels in the season-opener was his sixth career goal. He also has one assist to give him 13 career points with the Bobcats.

Welcome AboardIn his first game as a Bobcat, junior Sam Nicol made an immediate impact. His creativity in the middle of the field set Daniels up for the team's lone goal.

QU In The Preseason PollThe Bobcats were selected to finish eighth in the 2012 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. In search for their first NEC title, the Bobcats will look to overpower Monmouth University from its impressive run over the last three years.

Suprise, SupriseTop-scorer and captain, senior Philip Suprise, will return for his final year of eligibility. Surprise, a 2011 All-NEC First Team honoree, finished the 2011 campaign with five goals and four assists and has led the Bobcats in goals scored and overall points in each of the last three seasons. Surprise was the team's most dangerous player up top, leading the team in both shots (38) and shots on target (17) last year.

Following FreddyFormer Quinnipiac University men's soccer goalkeeper Freddy Hall made his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut with Toronto FC last week. Hall was the first player in Quinnipiac history to sign an MLS contract.

Looking AheadQU returns to the pitch on Sunday, September 2 with its second home game of the season. The Bobcats welcome the Leopards of Lafayette to the QU Soccer Field for a 1 p.m. tilt.